Smoke is unburnt diesel?

[JustinT]

I'm having trouble with smoke coming out the exhaust. Is this most likely unburnt diesel and dirty injectors? Can I clean them myself? Or do they need replacing? Thanks. Justin

[Benz]

Originally Posted by JustinT

I'm having trouble with smoke coming out the exhaust. Is this most likely unburnt diesel and dirty injectors? Can I clean them myself? Or do they need replacing? Thanks. Justin

I believe that the exhaust is where smoke normally comes from. I've never seen a diesel that didn't smoke, and as long as the exhaust is where its coming from, I wouldn't sweat it.
Unless it's billows and billows of smoke so thick that people think your boat's on fire...

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by JustinT

I'm having trouble with smoke coming out the exhaust.

What would be the colour of the smoke?

a)Black
b) Grey
c) White
d) other

When would you be seeing the smoke?

a) only after cold start
b) only when accelerating and under load
c) all the time
d) other

[JustinT]

It's grey/white. Does it all the time.

[Compass790]

Please post a vid of the smoke or steam
Do it when you are not underway if possible. Raw water cooled engines need the occasional descaling as the cooling passages can get clogged. Steam dissapates quickly whereas smoke tends to linger. There are youtube vids on descaling. Hydrochloric acid works the fastest but only for cast iron. Cant have any bronze or ali in there.

[JustinT]

It is certainly oily as it made our dingy filthy

[Finalee]

What engine and how many hours?
The answer depends.

[JustinT]

Bukh 20 and very few hours for several years it seems

[Scubaseas]

Originally Posted by JustinT

I'm having trouble with smoke coming out the exhaust. Is this most likely unburnt diesel and dirty injectors? Can I clean them myself? Or do they need replacing? Thanks. Justin

Liqui Moly Diesel Purge works quite well for cleaning injectors insitu. Do not get it on you rhands or painted surfaces though. Or leave rubber hoses in it for long preiods like over night.

Having the injectors rebuilt and checked is the best way but a Diesel Purge can work wonders, is cheap and relatively easy to do.

Pictures or video would be helpful.

[seandepagnier]

A solution is to use vegetable oils instead of diesel fuel. This will greatly reduce the danger of the fumes from the exhaust. You can get vegetable oil in the supermarket even in 5-10 gallon containers which should last a long time.

A better option is just to replace the engine with electric drive or.. you say your boat is only 28ft? Certainly doesn't need any kind of engine at all.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by JustinT

I'm having trouble with smoke coming out the exhaust. Is this most likely unburnt diesel and dirty injectors? Can I clean them myself? Or do they need replacing? Thanks. Justin

Losing any engine oil?
Dip stick reading low? Or, overfilled?
Blue smoke, oil, black or grey smoke is fuel.

Diesels often smoke a bit upon starting, but should clear out.
Unburnt diesel is greasy and yes, is hell on your dinghy.

Condition of the fuel can even cause this, water in it, old, cloudy.
I don't think you'll be able to clean them your self.
And testing the spray pattern could be hazardous.
Send them out.
It's the easiest probable fix.
SV Cloud Duster

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

A solution is to use vegetable oils instead of diesel fuel. This will greatly reduce the danger of the fumes from the exhaust. You can get vegetable oil in the supermarket even in 5-10 gallon containers which should last a long time.

A better option is just to replace the engine with electric drive or.. you say your boat is only 28ft? Certainly doesn't need any kind of engine at all.

Straight vegi oil isn't going to do your engine any good for long.
Even bio diesel isn't straight vegi oil.
It will gum up the engine.
Your engine may not even start on a cold day.

Electric is okay for the bay, in the marina.
No engine?
Sailing into a slip on a windy day is a gamble, on a good day.

IMHO
SV Cloud Duster

[Clivevon]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

A solution is to use vegetable oils instead of diesel fuel. This will greatly reduce the danger of the fumes from the exhaust. You can get vegetable oil in the supermarket even in 5-10 gallon containers which should last a long time.

A better option is just to replace the engine with electric drive or.. you say your boat is only 28ft? Certainly doesn't need any kind of engine at all.

Obviously a purist. To be ignored...

[Clivevon]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

Losing any engine oil?
Dip stick reading low? Or, overfilled?
Blue smoke, oil, black or grey smoke is fuel.

Diesels often smoke a bit upon starting, but should clear out.
Unburnt diesel is greasy and yes, is hell on your dinghy.

Condition of the fuel can even cause this, water in it, old, cloudy.
I don't think you'll be able to clean them your self.
And testing the spray pattern could be hazardous.
Send them out.
It's the easiest probable fix.
SV Cloud Duster

I would go with that.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Clivevon

Obviously a purist. To be ignored...

Purity, is fine.
But, not relevant to this topic.
SV Cloud Duster